Key Comparisons

A closer look

This breakdown is between two of the top foam mattress companies around: Leesa vs. Purple. While Leesa has been rated by industry experts as the best overall value for a foam mattress to date, Purple is a newcomer that is quickly catching up to the competition due to a unique polymer layer that sets their mattress apart.

At a quick glance, the Leesa mattress is comprised of three layers—Avena foam, memory foam, and support foam. These various foams contour to the body and are known for appeasing all different types of sleepers.

The Purple mattress is also made up of three layers—two types of polyurethane foam and a hyper-elastic polymer. This polymer is what attracts customers to the Purple, as it's known to be an incredible cooling agent and offers gel-like support.

‍What is each mattress made from?

Similar to tried-and-true foam mattresses, the Leesa’s foam layers offer pressure-relieving support and a comfortable topper sleepers can sink into slowly. It measures 10” tall, which is slightly above the Purple mattress, and is covered by a single piece of grey striped fabric made of soft polyester and stretchy lycra that helps keep sleepers cool.

Figure 1: Diagram showing foam layers of the Leesa mattress.

Although the Purple measures in at 9.5” tall, its creators rely on the foam layers and supportive polymer to make up for the missing 0.5” in height. Starting with the polymer topper, this mattress gives sleepers immediate pressure relief and distributes heat away from the body. The middle and bottom polyurethane foam provide compression support for the remainder of the mattress. For the white cover, Purple uses a comfortable fabric blend of viscose, polyester, and polyester-lycra.

Figure 2: Diagram showing layers of the Purple mattress.

How thick is each mattress?

As mentioned above, the Leesa is slightly thicker than the Purple, measuring in at 10" with three layers. The Purple is 9.5" tall, and comprised of two foam layers and one high-elastic polymer layer. Although the Purple is thinner, it actually is highly-rated for larger sleepers or couples since the polymer offers more support. For all-around sleepers or couples with significant weight differences, the Leesa is ranked slightly higher in customer satisfaction than the Purple.

Thickness (in.)

How much does each weigh?

Due to the solely foam layers, the Leesa mattress is significantly lighter than the Purple. Available in sizes from Twin to California King, the mattress weighs between 45-92 pounds. Despite its weight, the Leesa has been highly rated for supporting all sleeping positions and having a great response time when compared to other foam mattresses.

With the supportive polymer of the Purple comes a heavier weight. Ranging from 70-140 pounds, the Purple is available in sizes from a Twin XL to a California King. While the gel-like polymer adds a decent amount of heft, it also has an incredible cooling abilities and does a great job at supporting larger sleepers (+230 pounds). Due to its weight, some sleepers below 130 pounds have mentioned they seem to float on top of the mattress.

Weight of queen (lb.)

How durable is each mattress?

Neither the Leesa or Purple mattresses have been in production long enough to test the 10-year warranties both companies offer. However, both offer 100-night trial periods and full return policies. Based on the wear of current mattresses, customers and industry professionals rank the Purple's durability as "good" and the Leesa's durability as "good to fair." This is largely due to the strong, supportive polymer in the Purple mattress that is estimated to hold up better over time.

Durability (1-7)

What type of sleeping position is each mattress suitable for?

Looking first at the Leesa mattress, the majority of sleepers say it offers comfort and support in any sleeping position. On the influencer review website Sleep Like the Dead, the Leesa is best-rated for average (130-230 pounds) back and stomach sleepers. For larger sleepers in all positions, it is ranked “good to fair.”

The Purple mattress is notoriously great for average to larger sleepers because of its top polymer layer. Small sleepers (less than 130 pounds) find that they don’t sink into the mattress in any position. Average back sleepers find the most comfort, while side and stomach sleepers rate it “good to fair.” Larger sleepers on the Purple rate all positions as equally comfortable.

Which mattress is firmest?

While customers will find both the Leesa and the Purple supportive, the Purple wins out according to the review site Sleepopolis for firmness with a 6.5 out of 10 ranking. The Lessa comes in just under at a 6 out of 10 ranking. Because of the foam construction, both mattresses have minimal motion transfer and make no noise due to motion. For smaller sleepers, the firmness of the Purple may be too much, but the best way to find out is by knowing your sleeping habits and preferences, and testing each during a trial period.

FIrmness (1-7)

How much does each mattress cost?

There's no arguing that the Leesa mattress is fantastic value. However, the Purple could be the perfect mattresses for you—even if the price point is a bit higher than the Leesa. Depending on the size you need, the price difference ranges between $60 for a Queen and $230 for a King. Take a look at the comparison table below to see exact prices:

Price of Queen (USD)

How do customer ratings compare?

Depending on whether you compare reviews on Amazon, Sleepopolis, or Sleep Like the Dead, the Leesa and Purple are ranked almost even for overall customer satisfaction. This is because both mattresses have strengths and weaknesses, but it all comes down to what you need as a sleeper. Since the mattresses are ranked so similarly, we recommend taking your preferences, sleeping position, and budget into consideration instead of relying only on reviews.

Customer Satisfaction (1-5)

So, which is better?

Ultimately, you’re wondering whether to choose between a Lessa and Purple mattress. Based on our research and thousands of reviews, we have to say both mattresses would be a good option. If you’re looking for a medium-firm mattress that supports a larger sleeper or a couple keeps the sleeper cool, and has a unique feel, the Purple could be right for you. However, if you need a mattress that is all foam, is known to be the best value, and works for a variety of sizes and positions, the Leesa could be your ideal pick.